Chapter Four: A Drop in the Ocean
Disclaimer: All characters of 'The Avengers' belongs to Marvel comics and what not. However, KATHERINE is MINE. ^_^ Here goes…
A/N: Thanks for everyone's interest in this story and reading to this stage, I'm thankful and humbled by all of the comments, follows and reviews. Feel free to suggest plot ideas, I'm writing as I go, so there's no definite plot. Sorry about the lateness, I did not anticipate a plane flight yesterday (MAJOR LETLAG). I'm glad to share this adventure with you all, because even I don't know what will happen. XD Here's a clip of the fanfic: /watch?v=TPi4rB5v8iY
As sombre atmosphere filled the infirmary at the Avenger's Tower as Clint sat beside the form of Kat's unconscious body, listening to the eerie beeps of the heartbeat monitor. How could he be so stupid to overlook a check-up after that fall that she took? He knew better than that and because of his stupidity, his partner got hurt. The doctor concluded that the damage was a cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) at a lower level and after prescribed medication, she'd be fine. Every time he thought about it he wished it him in that bed, him who took the fall – not her. During the long four hours of waiting by Katherine's side, Clint confronted the odd new feelings he'd developed for this one girl, even after being hurt by Natasha, he cared for Kat the way that he'd never knew he could.
While busy with the new born baby, each member took turns visiting Kat in the infirmary, but Clint stayed the whole time.
He squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry, Katherine."
Clint quickly retreated his hand at the sound of the opening door and spun himself around in the chair to see a nurse. "Sir, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave now. The patient needs her rest."
He nodded and watched her leave, and stood up reluctantly off the chair, his gaze lingering on her face. Clint leaned down and planted one small kiss on Kat's cheek before backing away and headed for the door, oblivious to the fluttering of eyelashes.
"You missed." even in a weak whisper, Kat managed to sound like a smartass.
Clint's eyes widened and he stopped within his tracks before almost skipping to Kat's side. "Welcome back." He smiled lightly before pressing the assistance button for the nurse. "Kat, I'm sorry."
"Stop it, Clint, don't be a pathetic whimp," Kat starred at her partner. "It was all in the past. I'm fine, see?"
He focused on the oxygen tubes and the needle that stuck in her arms and shook his head in disbelief.
"Well, that's one life I'll never get back. Eight more to go." She joked, wincing as the nurse removed the needle in her arm.
After helping Kat to her room, Clint went to see the Stark family and tell the others about Kat's recovery. He barely reached the Stark suite when he was joined by Kat, in her ordinary everyday clothes with more colour in her cheeks.
"Thanks for watching over me," she walked up to meet him. "The nurse told me."
Clint nodded. "It was because of me that you were in there."
Kat placed a hand on his arm and took down her smartass façade. "Don't."
Interrupting the moment as always, Tony suddenly appeared at the door frame. He stood there for a second and took in Kat's infamous bubbly, idiotic grin. Despite his usual witty remarks, Tony remained silent as he hugged Kat tightly.
"Tony, I'm fine." Kat's said, her voice muffled into Tony's shoulder. "Now where's my nephew?"
"Alexander is right inside," Tony blinked. "I'm glad you're safe."
Kat smiled and walked past him into the master suite, leaving Clint behind. Tony turned to the marksman and Clint really thought he would get slapped, but Tony just went easy on him. "Thanks for taking care of my cousin."
"It was my fault she was even in there in the first place," Clint explained. "I'm sorry."
Tony genuinely smiled. "You won't change the past even if you regret it."
Clint thought back to the similar thing Kat said to him. "I can see how you too are related."
Meanwhile, on the inside of the newly formed nursery, Tony and Agent Hill were all cooing around baby Evan's bassinette. Kat jammed in between the two taller figures and swoon over her adorable baby nephew. Clint watched from the outside of the room, just observing from afar. His phone rang just at that moment.
"Hello?" he answered it with a flip.
Kat lost Evan to the two elves and decided to retreat as they stole him. She wondered out of the suite to see the familiar sight of Clint's back towards her as he engaged in the phone call. The girl wanted to surprise him and slowly crept up behind the guy, ever so quietly on her tippy toes, when she overheard something she didn't want to hear.
(While reading this next section, the recommended song is 'A Drop in the Ocean' by Ron Pope.)
"…call me when you go into labour – I'll be there." He said with a hint of seriousness in his voice. "Bye."
Clint had a weird feeling of someone standing behind him while he was on the call, but to his dismay, no one was around but him. He was sure he knew who it was, too. Barton overlooked the large splats of teardrops at his feet and went inside the master suite to see the new baby, hoping to find his partner there.
"Has anyone seen Kat?" he asked.
Tony shrugged while Pepper frowned. "She went outside just a minute ago."
Clint grimaced, not sure if something was wrong or maybe Kat just needed her space. Nonetheless, he was occupied with baby Evan's cuteness and stayed in the nursery. On the roof top of the Avengers Tower, Katherine Torrington sat at the edge with her arms around her knees and starred at the beautiful New York skyline, letting her tears decorate the stones. Natasha had told her about Clint's previous relationship and how seriousness it was, but Kat did not anticipate that there was a precious baby involved. She was wrong to interfere.
"Kat?" a deep voice came from the fire exit door of the rooftop.
She turned around to see Steve Rogers approaching her, in his normal clothes, officially off duty. "Oh, hey, Captain."
He sat beside her, facing the opposite direction. "What's wrong, Katherine?"
The girl wiped away her tears. "I have an allergy to…pollens."
"It's the winter." He noted.
"I'm also allergic to Loki's," she shrugged. "Even though he's on the opposite side of Town."
The Captain was surprised to see Kat like this – she was usually very bubbly and funny, but it felt like all of her happiness was drained out of her. "I'm right here if you want to talk about it."
"There's noting to talk about," Kat said, sounding more and more upset. "I was stupid for believing in the God's stupid game called love – I let someone in and I got shot down. Excuse me for being young, but feelings are damn complicated."
Kat finally broke into a hysterical cry and Steve wrapped his arms around her tiny body and sat in silent while she cried into his shirt, patting her hand with his left hand. "It's alright, Katherine."
At the most spontaneous timing, Clint's search for Katherine reached the rooftop and he was greeted by the sight of his target wrapped in Steve Roger's embrace. He thought about all the pain that he'd been through and how they all formed into one powershot and struck him in the heart right at that moment. Kat realised Clint standing by the door with a blank expression on his face and pulled away from Steve's arms, her eyes wide with fear that he would mistake this for something else.
"I see." Clint noted and smiled bitterly before slamming the door behind him.
